Archive for November, 2012|Monthly archive pageMap reflects the 30 most recent Persecution Reports. Click HERE for the Map Legend.Indonesian Pastors Ask for Help in Battle against Discrimination, Mob ViolenceFriday, November 30th, 2012In the hotbed of Islamic activism that is Bekasi, Indonesia, Christian pastors are fighting an uphill battle. Angry mobs of Muslims have been shutting down church services, threatening the pastors, and pressuring the local government to push churches out of the area. The local government has, for the most part, complied. Harsh Prison Sentence Given to Christian Poet in ChinaFriday, November 30th, 2012Li Bifeng became a Christian while imprisoned for pushing for greater political freedoms back in 1998. Since then he has continued to be active, helping Chinese writer Liao Yiwu, author of “God is Red” escape China. It appears that for this the Chinese government has given Li an excessive sentence of 12 years in prison. Sharia Declared Main Source of Law in EgyptFriday, November 30th, 2012In a move that threatens Coptic Christians in Egypt, “the Egyptian Constituent Assembly dominated by Islamists has approved Art. 2 of the draft constitution.” Recently opponents of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood took to the streets in protest. One protestor told ICC, “Morsi is trying to be the new Muslim brotherhood dictator. He will ruin everything…” Pakistani Christians Protest Morsi’s Visit to ParliamentFriday, November 30th, 2012Christians in Pakistan were against Morsi’s visit to their country. They blame Morsi for poor treatment of Coptic Christians and staged a walk out of his visit to address Pakistani Parliament. Uzbekistan: Thousands of Bibles and Other Religious Literature Ordered to be DestroyedFriday, November 30th, 2012Uzbekistan has very strict rules and regulations regarding religious literature, and recently religious literature from two Christians was confiscated. All such materials must be “analyzed” by authorities. If they are found to be “dangerous” they are ordered to be destroyed. In this case legal procedures are believed to be violated. The expert who “analyzed” the material (1,300 books, 2,100 brochures, 450 leaflets, 50 magazines, 200 videos, and 350 audio cassettes) somehow managed to watch, read and listen to all of them in one day. They were, of course all deemed dangerous and are to be destroyed. A local Protestant said that to analyze all this material in one day “beats the Guinness Book of Records", ‘This Gift is Given to You by Corey, But it is from Jesus…’Friday, November 30th, 2012An update from our representative in Bangladesh. Christians in Sudan Continue to be Attacked by Sudanese MilitaryFriday, November 30th, 2012Boko Haram Terrorizes Christians Buts Is Not a Terrorist Group… What?Friday, November 30th, 2012Obama’s Burma Policy Overlooks Plight of Ethnic ChristiansFriday, November 30th, 201211/30/2012 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) - U.S. President Barack Obama's historic visit to Burma this month gave further legitimacy to a nominally civilian government that has showcased reforms while failing to alleviate the longtime suffering of about 3 million Christians. Chinese Christians Use Social Networking to Encourage Religious FreedomThursday, November 29th, 2012With internet users growing exponentially in China, Christians have taken to the popular micro blogging sight Weibo to express their desires for greater religious freedom. Many though remain cautious, as the blogs are monitored and criticism of the government can be dangerous. Vietnamese Christians Fight for Religious Freedom amidst Arrests, ImprisonmentThursday, November 29th, 2012Despite doing an excellent job of convincing the international community that religious freedom is growing, Vietnam continues to harass, arrest, and imprison Christians for spreading the gospel or speaking up for their rights. Christian leaders are monitored and questioned by secret police and many pastors, especially of the Hmong ethnic group, are languishing in prison for refusing to recant their faith and stop sharing the Gospel message. Kazakhstan’s Religious Law Results in OppressionThursday, November 29th, 2012It’s more of the same in Kazakhstan. More of what we see with Religious Laws, such as the one Kazakhstan recently adopted, bringing oppression instead of freedom. This article discusses the recent ramifications in greater detail. Belarus: Will the Government Force the Church to Close its Doors?Thursday, November 29th, 2012In Belarus, “If a building is not a designated house of worship, advance state permission is needed for religious activity, and anti-Protestant officials refuse to grant it.” This means if you rent, or buy a building zoned as something else you will have a hard time getting the paperwork necessary to change the zoning and will find yourself evicted from your own property. Just ask New Life Church of Minsk. They bought a cowshed in 2002 and State authorities refuse to allow this 1,000 member church change the designation. Instead they have fined them repeatedly and have given them until December 5th to voluntarily vacate their property before being forcibly removed. Raise YOUR Voice for the Voiceless!Thursday, November 29th, 2012Sign our petition calling for the greater protection of Christian churches in Tanzania! Swedish Courts Halt Deportation of Iranian ChristianThursday, November 29th, 2012Reza Jebbari, an Iranian Christian, was set for deportation from Sweden back to Iran when a news story detailing his case was released. In the news story the plight of Christians in Iran, many who are indefinitely imprisoned and even killed because they are Christians, was exposed. Jebbari’s deportation was put on hold but whether or not he will be given permanent residency remains to be seen. Justice of Christians in India?Thursday, November 29th, 2012Rare Victory for Pakistan with Blasphemy ExonerationThursday, November 29th, 2012Despite the 600 Christian families beaten, mob violence at the hands of angry Muslims, Christians forced to hide in slums, and endless weeks in prison Rimsha’s blasphemy case resulted in victory. Why? Because she was exonerated of the blasphemy charges; a first of such cases. Read on to find out more. Egyptian Christians Sentenced to Death for Islam FilmThursday, November 29th, 2012Seven Egyptian Christians released an “anti-Islam” YouTube film about the life of Muhammad that sparked mob violence and riots by Muslims around the world. Tried in absentia, the seven have been issued a death sentence by the courts. "The seven accused persons were convicted of insulting the Islamic religion through participating in producing and offering a movie that insults Islam and its prophet," Judge Saif al-Nasr Soliman said. We are well aware that this is a sensitive issue, but it shows in Egypt’s intolerance toward blasphemy. Should Boko Haram Be Designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization?Thursday, November 29th, 2012Arrests of Christians Spike in IranThursday, November 29th, 201211/29/2012 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) - Reports of Iranian authorities arresting Christians for their faith are pouring in, indicating that the Islamic nation is running a massive campaign targeting house churches. Christians in Nigeria Bring Case Against Boko Haram in the ICCThursday, November 29th, 2012Mob Descends on Churches in Indonesia as Anti-Christian Sentiment GrowsWednesday, November 28th, 2012“The Indonesian government can no longer afford to ignore the discrimination and outright aggression that is taking place against the country’s religious minorities. This latest incident took place even as members of Indonesia’s Shia Muslim community remain homeless after mobs burned down their village in August. At least half a dozen churches in the Bekasi-Jakarta area have been forced out of their buildings by angry mobs of extremists just this year alone. How can the Indonesian government claim a tolerant society when it allows religious fanatics to intimidate and even attack religious minorities on a regular basis? Indonesia’s Christians, as well as every other religious minority, must be given the freedom to worship and practice their religion in peace.” Christians in Laos Resist Severe Pressures to Recant FaithWednesday, November 28th, 2012Laos is one of the five remaining Communist nations on earth and Christians still face regular persecution for their faith. Most of it takes place in rural areas, far from the eyes of the international media. ICC is working with local organizations to bring aid to Christian Lao families that have faced everything from social discrimination to arrest to pressure to convert back to their animist beliefs. Chinese Christian Who Helped Hundreds of North Koreans Escape Now Trapped in ThailandWednesday, November 28th, 2012Along the North Korea/China border there are hundreds of missionaries and Christians risking their lives and their freedom to help North Koreans escape the nightmare of Communism in the “Hermit Kingdom.” China actively works to find these activists and arrest them. In addition, China will deport any North Korean refugees discovered back to North Korea, possibly sending them to be imprisoned or even executed. Tu Ai-rong is one of those Christian activists and has helped hundreds escape North Korea. Now though his home government, China, has issued a warrant for his arrest and he is trapped in Thailand, unable to return home or be granted status as a refugee. Calls Intensify to Designate Nigeria’s Boko Haram as Terrorist GroupWednesday, November 28th, 201211/28/2012 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) - Amid what is being termed as "genocide" of Christians by Boko Haram suicide bombers in Nigeria, Christians from this West African nation living in the U.S. have intensified their calls for the designation of the Islamist group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the State Department. Egypt Judges Suspend Work to Protest Morsi DecreesWednesday, November 28th, 2012Even Judges in Egypt are protesting Morsi’s self-appointed “basically absolute power”. Opponents of Morsi who want democracy, not a continuing dictatorship, have been gathering and protesting these recent actions by Morsi. It appears that Judges of the Cassation Court have joined in as well. Many wonder what the future holds for Egypt. Pastor Youcef of Iran Thanks His Prayer SupportersWednesday, November 28th, 2012Wrongly accused of “apostasy” and on death row in Iran, Pastor Youcef was released earlier this year. The Church around the world spent countless hours in prayer for him, his family and his release. In this article he expresses his gratefulness saying, “It is the opportunity for me to share about what the Lord did for me and to thank you because you supported me by your prayers, you supported my family in a very difficult time…My prayer is I ask the Lord to bless you for what you did for me as a small member of the body of Christ…Today my presence here is the will of God and the result of what your prayers did for me.” Pastor in India Attacked Twice by Same RadicalsWednesday, November 28th, 2012Remember the Persecuted this Holiday SeasonWednesday, November 28th, 2012Check out our Christmas Catalog for a list of opportunities! Christians in Sudan Trapped by Repressive GovernmentWednesday, November 28th, 2012 |
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